Weft-feeler for automatic weft-replenishing looms.



W. R. STITT. y WEET FEELER FOB. AUTOMATIC WEET EEPLENISHING LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 1,1906.

922,539. Patented May 25, 1909.

INVENTOR,

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f of weft yarn.

UNITED S I FFICCE.

WILLIAM RICHARD STITT, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

WEFT-FEELER FOR AUTOMATIC WEFT-REPLENISHING LOOMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICHARD STITT, British subject, and resident of Belfast, county of Antrim, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Veft Feelers for Automatic Weit Replenishing Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weft feelers for automatic looms for indicating when the weft yarn is nearly exhausted in the shuttle and causing the yarn to be replenished therein before being completely run oit or exhausted.

It is applicable to weft carriers such for example as bobbins, pirns, cop bases, wett cases or other carriers by which the yarn is carried for insertion in the shuttles.

The invention consists essentially of a removable tube for insertion in the weft carrier with an operative rod or spindle placed in the interior and capable of sliding longitudinally therein actuated by a spring and a spring catch on the exterior which is held by the weft yarn in engagement with the sliding rod to retain it in position against the pressure of the spring and releases it when the Weit yarn becomes exhausted, also a device for holding the removable tube in position in the interior oi' the Weit carrier and locking it therein.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings Figure l is a longitudinal section through a Wooden pirn or bobbin showing the weft Fig. 2. longitudinal sectional plan through a Wooden pirn or bobbin showing the weft ieeler in plan. Fig. 3. longitudinal section through a wooden pirn or bobbin showing the weft feeler therein and the spindle D in elevation. Fig. 4. end elevation of the weft feeler removed from the pirn or bobbin. Fig. 5. longitudinal section of base of weft case or cop holder showing the weft feeler in section, with a i'ull cop Fig. 6. longitudinal section of base of weft case or cop holder showing the weft ieeler in plan. Fig. 7. longitudinal section oi' base of Wett case or cop holder showing the weft feeler in section with the weit yarn absent. Fig. 8. end elevation of Weit feeler in base of weit case.

Referring to Figs. l to 4 the invention is shown as applied to a wooden weft carrier A which is externally of ordinary shape or construction to 'lit the shuttle oll a weit replen- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 1, 1906.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. 336,977.

ishing loom. The interior oi the wooden carrier A is made hollow to receive a removable tube or tubular case B which is iitted therein. The tube or case B is litted externally with projections l) which when iitted into the bobbin prevent it rotating therein. The tube or case is also fitted with a loose sleeve or collar B carrying similar projections b which iit into annular grooves in the bobbin and when rotated about its axis lock the tube in position in the interior oi' the bobbins after the manner oi a bayonet joint. The removable tubular case may be i'ormed in any other way such as square, angular or otherwise to prevent it rotating when in position in the interior of the bobbin or carrier. And the sleeve or lock may be made with a screw or other device ior locking or securing the appliance when in position.

The tube or tubular case B is fitted internally with an operative spindleD somewhat longer than the tube to extend beyond it at one or both ends. The spindle D is ior part of its length oil the same diameter as the interior oi the tube so as to slide freely therein and i'or part ol' its length is oi less diameter and is formed with a shoulder or collar d to receive a spiral spring (l to force it backward and cause it to project from the end oi'l the tube.

The spindle D is at one end formed with a head or cross bar (Z2 which serves as a stop to prevent it being drawn back into the tube B by the spring d and also serves to engage a spring catch C on the exterior oi the tube by which the spindle vcan be held extended against the pressure olI the spring d. The spring catch C on the exterior olI the tube B may be formed oil wire with a crook at one end. It is fixed at one end and the crooked end extends beyond the end ol' the tube and when depressed the crook engages the head d2 or a projection or notch in the end oi' the spindle and holds it beyond the end of the tube against the pressure of the internal spring. When the crooked end of the lspring is released it springs away 'from the spindle and allows the latter to be projected at the other end oi' the tube. The spring catch C is held depressed by the weit yarn on the pirn and is released when the yarn is un- Wound or removed from over it.

In the base of the wooden weit carrier A a slot a is cut into which the spring catch C passes and through which it projects when not obstructed by the weft yarn wound on the exterior. TWhen the yarn is removed the spring flies outward and releases the internal spindle.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 8 the invention is shown as applied to the base of a weft holder or weft case A which is of the ordinary shape or construction with a peg or tongue A2 upon which the weft yarn in the form of a cop or pirn E is placed. The base of the peg or tongue A2 is made hollow or tubular in which is fitted a spindle D capable of moving longitudinally therein. The spindle D is mounted in a bush d3 or otherwise to move freely in the interior of the tube and to permit one end to project therefrom. A spiral spring d is inserted in the cavity or recess in the tubular or hollow base B2 to force the spindle D backward and cause it to project from the end of the case or holder. The spindle D is at its inner end formed with a head or collar d2 against which the spring d abuts which serves as a stop to prevent it being ejected from its cavity and also serves to engage a spring catch C on the exterior by which the spindle can be held against the pressure of the spring d.

The spring catch C is pivoted to the exterior of the hollow base B2 of the peg or tongue A2 and at one end projects inward to engage the head or collar d2 of the spindle D and at the other end extends over the cop or pirn E which holds it in the position shown in Fig. 5. When the yarn of the cop is unwound or removed the crooked end moves `outward and releases the internal spindle D see Fig. 7.

In operation the free extremity of the internal operative spindle D or D is pushed up level with the end of the tube or base B or B2 and the spring catch C or C is depressed with the crook engaging the head d2 of the spindle and so held by the yarn upon the bobbin or carrier. When the weft yarn becomes nearly exhausted the spring catch is released and it flies outward releasing the spindle D or D which is then forced backward by the internal spring d and projects beyond the end or base of the bobbin or weft case or holder.

I do not confine myself to any particular method of fastening the feeler apparatus to the pirn or bobbin weft case or holder.

The spindle when released and allowed to project beyond the base of the bobbin pirn weft case or holder may be made to retard the motion of any suitable pusher of faller mechanism and so cause the loom to be replenished with weft. The whole is removable from the weft carrier and replaceable in another so that the weft feeler may be used successively in a number of weft carriers.

W hat I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A weft feeler for weft replenishing looms to be removably inserted in the weft carrier comprising the combination with weft carrier of a removable tubular hollow case B, an operative spindle placed in the interior of the case and capable of longitudinal movement therein, a spring placed in the interior of the case to abut against the spindle by which the latter is moved and caused to project from the rear of the case, and a spring controlled catch to engage the spindle and hold it against the pressure of the spring all of which as a whole can be removed from and replaced in the weft carrier substantially as described.

2. In weft replenishing looms the combination with the weft carrier of a removable tubular hollow case applied thereto, an operative spindle fitted into the hollow case capable of longitudinal movement therein and projecting beyond the end a spring placed in the case by which the spindle is forced backward to project from the carrier and a spring catch to engage the spindle and hold it within the interior of the weft carrier such catch being controlled by the weft yarn all of which as a whole can be removed from and replaced in the weft carrier substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a weft carrier A provided with a slot a of a removable tubular case B inserted in the base thereof an operative spindle D in the interior of the case capable of longitudinal movement therein a spring cl acting against the spindle, and a spring catch C affixed to the case B and placed in slot a in the weft carrier to hold the spindle in position against the pressure of the spring substantially as described.

4. The combination with a weft carrier A provided with a slot a of a removable tubular case B inserted in the base thereof an operative spindle D in the interior of the case capable of longitudinal movement therein a spring d acting against the spindle, aspring catch placed in the slot a, projections b on the exterior of the case,and a loose collar B with projections b to lock the case in position in the interior of the weft carrier7 the whole capable of removal and replacement in the weft carrier substantially as described In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM RICHARD STITT. 

